Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surin and Koh Phangan

For one person, living is cheaper in Surin: $869 a month against $1,024 in Koh Phangan, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Surin
🇹🇭 Thailand
$869
/mo nomad
Koh Phangan
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,024
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Surin and in Koh Phangan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Surin and in Koh Phangan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Surin versus $1,024 in Koh Phangan.

  • Surin $869
  • Koh Phangan $1,024

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,444 in Surin versus $1,693 in Koh Phangan.

  • Surin $1,444
  • Koh Phangan $1,693

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,018 in Surin versus $2,361 in Koh Phangan.

  • Surin $2,018
  • Koh Phangan $2,361

Living in Surin costs roughly 15% less than in Koh Phangan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surin 36% lower, Koh Phangan 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ฿101
$3.97 ฿133
-23.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.70 ฿826
$29.08 ฿972
-15.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 ฿242
$7.90 ฿264
-8.48%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ฿58.3
$2.53 ฿84.5
-31.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ฿20.30
$0.87 ฿28.98
-29.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.89
$0.42 ฿13.98
-21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 ฿73.5
$2.21 ฿73.9
-0.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 ฿114
$3.45 ฿115
-0.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$1.58 ฿52.9
-0.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ฿43.79
$1.39 ฿46.52
-5.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.98
$1.50 ฿50.0
-2.00%
Eggs
$1.90 ฿63.5
$2.05 ฿68.5
-7.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.41 ฿582
$18.33 ฿613
-5.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.48 ฿83.0
$3.31 ฿111
-25.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 ฿297
$10.35 ฿346
-14.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ฿86.0
$2.81 ฿93.9
-8.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 ฿34.23
$1.66 ฿55.3
-38.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 ฿82.9
$2.11 ฿70.4
17.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.5
$2.05 ฿68.5
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.20
$1.46 ฿48.81
-1.37%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 ฿31.77
$1.32 ฿44.04
-28.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ฿31.37
$1.06 ฿35.46
-11.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ฿14.59
$0.52 ฿17.45
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿143
$4.20 ฿140
1.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.36 ฿547
$17.36 ฿580
-5.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$1.76 ฿58.7
-10.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ฿100
$2.67 ฿89.4
12.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 ฿30.79
$2.06 ฿68.9
-55.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 ฿45.65
$2.64 ฿88.3
-48.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.73
$0.92 ฿30.81
9.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.04 ฿202
$3.47 ฿116
74.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿45.06
$1.32 ฿44.17
2.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ฿758.4K
$23.8K ฿796.2K
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K ฿904.4K
$24.5K ฿818.5K
10.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.8 ฿2,601
$98.4 ฿3,287
-20.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.53 ฿385
$11.11 ฿371
3.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.68 ฿624
$16.91 ฿565
10.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.58 ฿1,390
$52.8 ฿1,764
-21.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.45 ฿383
$10.82 ฿362
5.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$7.69 ฿257
-15.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 ฿21.0K
$560 ฿18.7K
12.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ฿405.0K
$11.7K ฿391.0K
3.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 ฿1,773
$63.7 ฿2,129
-16.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.95 ฿934
$28.59 ฿955
-2.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.3 ฿2,451
$95.9 ฿3,205
-23.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0 ฿2,274
$86.9 ฿2,905
-21.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 ฿14.7K
$509 ฿17.0K
-13.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 ฿9,126
$326 ฿10.9K
-16.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ฿39.6K
$1,464 ฿48.9K
-19.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 ฿23.9K
$833 ฿27.8K
-14.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,730 ฿57.8K
$2,509 ฿83.9K
-31.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,518 ฿50.7K
$1,781 ฿59.5K
-14.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surin
Koh Phangan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$713 ฿23.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surin: October 18, 2026

Last update for Koh Phangan: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Surin
$273
Koh Phangan
$326 19.5% $53
Groceries & Markets
Surin
$235
Koh Phangan
$256 9% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surin
$108
Koh Phangan
$126 17% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Surin
$100
Koh Phangan
$124 23.7% $24
Eating Out
Surin
$88
Koh Phangan
$109 23.1% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Surin
$55
Koh Phangan
$68 24.8% $14
Getting Around
Surin
$10 *
Koh Phangan
$16 * 53.5% $5.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Surin and $509 in Koh Phangan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Surin vs $29.00 in Koh Phangan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $256 per month, with Surin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Surin
🇹🇭 Koh Phangan
🕒 Local time
11:14 11:14 AM
11:14 11:14 AM
Same time as Surin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,104
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Surin Koh Phangan 680 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Surin
  • Koh Phangan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Surin vs Koh Phangan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surin and in Koh Phangan?
Surin and Koh Phangan differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($869 vs $1,024 including rent). Surin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Surin compared to Koh Phangan?
You'd need roughly $1,303 in Surin and $1,537 in Koh Phangan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Surin and in Koh Phangan?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Surin versus $509 in Koh Phangan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Koh Phangan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Surin or Koh Phangan?
All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Surin versus $1,024 in Koh Phangan – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $869 in Surin versus $1,024 in Koh Phangan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Surin but tight or insufficient in Koh Phangan. The gap between the two cities makes Surin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surin and Koh Phangan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Surin or Koh Phangan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Surin and Koh Phangan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Surin or Koh Phangan?
Expats usually find Surin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Koh Phangan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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